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spontaneousdone or occurring as a natural impulse without planning or external cause

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: done or occurring as a natural impulse without planning or external cause

Pronunciation (IPA): /spɑːnˈteɪniəs/

Example Sentences

  • His spontaneous marriage proposal in the grocery store surprised everyone, including himself.
  • The class broke into spontaneous singing when the teacher announced no homework.
  • She's known for her spontaneous acts of kindness toward strangers.

spontaneous

ADJECTIVE

[/spɑːnˈteɪniəs/]

done or occurring as a natural impulse without planning or external cause

The stressed worker aggressively threw his heavy planner into the trash, making a completely spontaneous decision to escape to the beach.
💡 Concept

The stressed worker aggressively threw his heavy planner into the trash, making a completely spontaneous decision to escape to the beach.

SPONT(own accord) + ANEOUS(state) — a spontaneous reaction is like a jack-in-the-box bursting outward purely by its own internal force.
🧠 Mnemonic

SPONT(own accord) + ANEOUS(state) — a spontaneous reaction is like a jack-in-the-box bursting outward purely by its own internal force.

Struck by the magician's instantaneous flash of fire, the amazed audience member leaped up in a totally spontaneous explosion of cheers.
🎵 Rhyme

Struck by the magician's instantaneous flash of fire, the amazed audience member leaped up in a totally spontaneous explosion of cheers.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/spɑːnˈteɪniəs/
🇬🇧 UK/spɒnˈteɪniəs/

🌳Etymology

Rootspont
Suffix--aneous

Origin

From Latin 'spontaneus' meaning 'of one's own accord,' derived from 'sponte' meaning 'willingly' or 'of one's own will.' The Latin root is of uncertain ultimate origin but may be related to Latin 'spondere' meaning 'to promise.'

Breakdown

Latin 'sponte' (of one's own will) + '-aneus' (suffix forming adjectives) + '-ous' (English adjective suffix) = spontaneous (occurring by one's own impulse)

🎵Rhyme

instantaneoussimultaneousextraneous
instantaneous
simultaneous
extraneous

🔗Collocations

spontaneous combustion
spontaneous reaction
spontaneous applause
spontaneous laughter
spontaneous recovery
be spontaneous

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

His spontaneous marriage proposal in the grocery store surprised everyone, including himself.

😄 Fun example

The class broke into spontaneous singing when the teacher announced no homework.

She's known for her spontaneous acts of kindness toward strangers.

The spontaneous road trip turned into the best weekend of our lives.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

impulsiveimpromptuunplannedinstinctivenatural

Antonyms

planneddeliberatecalculated

Related

impulseinstinctautomaticvoluntary

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